SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 19: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after teammate running back Anthony Dixon #24 scores a one-yard touchdown in the first half against the Seattle Seahawks during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 19: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after teammate running back Anthony Dixon #24 scores a one-yard touchdown in the first half against the Seattle

After Sherman helped seal Seattle's 23-17 win in the NFC Championship Game by tipping Kaepernick's pass intended for wideout Michael Crabtree, Sherman directed a choke sign at Kaepernick, mocked the quarterback's decision to test him in such a situation and termed Crabtree a "mediocre" and "sorry" receiver.

On KNBR, Kaepernick termed Sherman's shots at Crabtree "ridiculous" and "absurd," but he offered more pointed remarks to the New York Post.

Kaepernick, who threw just two passes in Sherman's direction, said: "He's afraid of our receivers, and that's something I'm looking forward to (exploiting) next year."

Asked about Sherman's choke sign, he offered this: "Did that make you feel better about yourself? Then go ahead. Because I'm not worried about you."

He also said Sherman would have been the "goat" if that final throw had been placed one foot farther. Asked about his final pass on KNBR, Kaepernick insisted he hasn't second-guessed his pre-snap decision to target Crabtree. Linebacker Malcolm Smith intercepted the pass after Sherman's deflection.

"I think I would do it the same way again," Kaepernick said. "We had moved down the field. We got a one-on-one matchup backside on the last play and, I mean, I'm going to take Crabtree every chance I get in a one-on-one matchup."

Even against Sherman, a first-team All-Pro the past two seasons who led the NFL with eight interceptions in 2013?

"I wouldn't second-guess that at all," Kaepernick said. "I don't play this game to play with fear of a player, or another team or anyone. To me, I saw the matchup, I liked it, I'm going to take my chance."

Unable to go back and change that final throw, Kaepernick has started looking ahead. Entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2014, Kaepernick's base salary of $973,766 would qualify him as grossly underpaid.

He would like a nice pay raise, but he also wants to keep leading a title contender and took a team-friendly tone with his first comments about a possible contract extension.

"I think it's a balance," Kaepernick said on KNBR. "You want to be paid fairly for what you feel like you're doing in comparison to your peers. But at the same time you have to realize that if we want to get (wide receiver) Anquan Boldin back, if we want (safety) Donte Whitner to come back, we're going to have to make moves to get them back and there has to be room for everyone.

"That's something I'm going to let my agent and the organization try to figure out, but hopefully it's a position where we can assemble what we need."

Boldin, Whitner, placekicker Phil Dawson and cornerback Tarell Brown are among the team's 10 unrestricted free agents. The 49ers, of course, would like to bring back their core players and sign Kaepernick to a team-friendly deal as they look to reload and unseat Seattle in the NFC West.

Eyeing that, Kaepernick will be in Miami on Monday to begin working out at Bommarito Performance Systems, where Boldin and running back Frank Gore have trained. Boldin and Gore, both Florida natives, recommended the training center to their quarterback.

Kaepernick, who is scheduled for a 7 a.m. Monday workout, said he'll spend the offseason aiming to improve. On the West Coast, he hopes, his agents and the 49ers will find the right balance on a contract extension.

"To me, that's not something I'm worried about," Kaepernick said. "I'm going to let my agents worry about that. To me, I'm trying to focus on what I need to do next season and improve myself so I can help improve this offense and, ultimately, help win a Super Bowl."